Treuer / R. Treuer
Otto Friedrich Treuer, 1818 - 1880
Robert Richard Paul Treuer, 1853 - 1935
by Brian Stevenson
Last updated March 2024
The Treuer optical business of 40/41 Mohren Strasse, Berlin, Germany stated that it was founded in 1830. That date likely corresponds with the beginning of Otto Treuer’s apprenticeship, since his father worked as a business secretary. The Treuer optical business was first identified in Berlin address books in 1843, with Otto as proprietor. The firm appears to have primarily produced eyeglasses and binoculars (for theater-viewing, military, and sport uses). Otto passed the business to his son during the mid-/late-1870s. Advertisements indicate that Richard Treuer greatly expanded the inventory to include a wide variety of goods, including microscopes.
Figure 1.
Compound microscope that is engraved, “Fabrik von Richard Treuer, Berlin, W. Mohrenstr. 40”. Richard took over the business from his father in the mid- to late-1870s, and the address was changed from #40 to #41 in 1878, implying production of this microscope ca. 1877. Although it says that Treuer manufactured this instrument, it closely resembles others of the period that were made in France, and may well have been acquired by Treuer from a wholesale manufacturer.
Figure 2.
An 1888 advertisement from Richard Treuer, showing the wide range of items available from his shop, including microscopes. From “Schorers Familienblatt”.
Figure 3.
An 1888 Treuer advertisement for a hand-held simple microscope/magnifier and small slides. From “Schorers Familienblatt”.
Figure 4.
An 1892 advertisement that shows Treuer’s shop at 41 Mohren Strasse, and his factory to the right. These buildings are still standing in Berlin, although the shop building evidently has a new façade. Note that the advertisement states that the business was founded in 1830. From “Das Echo”.
Otto Friedrich Treuer was born on September 28, 1818, in Brandenburg, son of Johann Heinrich and Wilhelmine Auguste (nee Gravenhorst) Treuer. Baptism records of Otto and two younger sisters list Heinrich’s occupation as “secretary”, implying that he was not the person who founded the Treuer optical business in 1830. Since Otto turned 12 that year, the date may refer to the beginning of his apprenticeship.
The Treuer business was not mentioned in Berlin address books until the 1843 edition, which listed “Treuer, O.F., Mechanikus, Dorotheenstr. 51”. The previous year, Otto married Caroline Wilhelmine Rommel.
Otto moved his business moved to several locations over the next 20 years, finally settling at 40 Mohren Strasse in 1864.
Otto and his wife evidently separated in 1860, possibly earlier. The 1860 Berliner Adreßbuch included an entry for “Treuer, W., geb. Rommel, Feinmascherin, Köpniderstr. 121” (“Treuer, W., born Rommel, fine washerwoman”). By the end of 1862, Wilhelmine had opened a competing business, being listed in the 1863 address book as “mechanikus”.
The separation may have been linked to the birth of Robert Richard Paul Hankÿ on July 2, 1853. His baptism record listed his mother as Pauline Franziska Hankÿ, and was amended in 1876 to list the father as Otto Treuer. Otto and Pauline Hankÿ were married on 21 December, 1875. Their son acquired the surname "Treuer", probably in conjunction with the amendment of his baptism record.
The 1877 Berliner Adreßbuch listed “Treuer, Mohrenstr. 40”, while the 1878 edition listed “Treuer, R., Fbrkt. f. Brillen u. Theatergläser, W. Mohrenstr. 41” (“maker of eyeglasses and theater glasses”). All later entries and advertisements gave the address as 41 Mohren Strasse. Thus, Richard acquired his father’s business around 1876-1877.
Otto Treuer died on September 29, 1880.
An 1892 advertisement shows that the Treuer business included the retail shop on the ground floor of a 5 storey building, with four large windows full of goods, next to an extensive workshop (Figure 4).
Richard Treuer died on March 16, 1935.
The business continued as “R. Treuer” at 41 Mohren Strasse, probably operated by family members. Around 1945, the shop moved to 23 Jerusalemer Strasse. In 1950-51, the business was purchased by Gerhard Doering, and moved to 1 Kaiser Friedrich Strasse. It was still in business in 1957.
Figure 5.
An 1865 advertisement from Otto Treuer. Note his emphasis on eyeglasses and binoculars (“jumelles”). From “Berliner Gerichts-Zeitung”.
Figure 6.
Another 1888 advertisement from “Schorers Familienblatt”.
Figure 7.
Opera glasses by Richard Treuer. Image adapted for nonprofit, educational purposes from an internet sale site.
Figure 8.
Richard Treuer binoculars. Adapted for nonprofit, educational purposes from an internet sale site.
Resources
Baptism record of Otto Friedrich Treuer (1818) accessed through ancestry.com
Baptism record of Robert Richard Paul Hankÿ (1853) accessed through ancestry.com
Berliner Telephone Books (1925, 1940, 1950, 1952, and 1957) accessed through ancestry.com
Berliner Adreßbuch (numerous years) accessed through https://digital.zlb.de/viewer/berliner-adressbuecher/
Berliner Gerichts-Zeitung (1865) advertisement from Otto Treuer, June 8 issue, page 4
Death record of Otto Friedrich Treuer (1880) accessed through ancestry.com
Death record of Richard Treuer (1935) accessed through ancestry.com
Das Echo (1891) advertisements from Richard Treuer, pages 91, 283, 543, and 788
Das Echo (1892) advertisement from Richard Treuer, page 267
German vital records, accessed through ancestry.com
Marriage record of Otto Friedrich Treuer and Caroline Wilhelmine Rommel (1842) accessed through ancestry.com
Marriage record of Otto Friedrich Treuer and Pauline Auguste Hankÿ (1875) accessed through ancestry.com
Schorers Familienblatt (1888) advertisements from Richard Treuer, numerous issues